Movie spotlight
Fish market workers Stan and Ollie are persuaded by a sea captain to shanghai a crew for him at the local bar for a dollar a head. Successful at first, the boys end up getting themselves shanghaied, and the crew vow revenge.
A group of bumbling sailors, led by a timid captain, attempt to prove their bravery by spending a night in a reputedly haunted house. They are terrified by noises and apparitions, only to discover the 'ghosts' are actually a gang of bootleggers using the house as a hideout. The sailors inadvertently foil the criminals' plans, leading to a chaotic and comical resolution.
As a short film from 1934, 'The Live Ghost' was likely received as a lighthearted comedy intended for a studio's "shorts" program. Contemporary reviews, if they existed, would have focused on its comedic elements and the performances of its stars, particularly Buster Keaton, who was a major comedic figure of the era. Its horror elements would have been played for laughs rather than genuine fright.
Buster Keaton's signature physical comedy is on full display.
A clever blend of horror tropes played for laughs.
The short format keeps the pacing brisk and the gags coming.
Google audience: Audience reception for this short is not readily available through typical aggregated platforms like Google Reviews.
This short film is one of Buster Keaton's contributions to the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) "Our Gang" (The Little Rascals) comedies, though it doesn't directly feature the main cast of that series.
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Another fine short from the boys at their peak, this time stuck between a rock and a hard place, trying their best to avoid both an awful boss and a vindictive crew that they tricked into becoming fellow sailors. A fine supporting crew make...